Although Africa is the most genetically diverse region on Earth, it remains underrepresented in global immunogenetic databases, particularly for high-resolution Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) data critical to immune response and vaccine design.
In a new study, researchers analyzed HLA Class I profiles from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Zambia. They found significant genetic differences not only between countries but also among ethnic groups within the same country. These comparisons with African American and European American populations confirmed that Africa’s HLA diversity is too unique for U.S.-based data to guide T-cell vaccine design.
The findings call for urgent investment in Africa-specific immunogenetic data to ensure vaccines are both effective and equitable. As the world pivots to T-cell-inducing vaccines, representing Africa’s true genetic data becomes a global health priority.
Read more about this study here